Lamp socket provided with means to secure it to an apertured panel



Dec. 29, 1953 F, HOWARD LAMP SOCKET PROVIDED WITH MEANS TO SECURE IT TO AN APERTURED PANEL Filed April 15, 1950 im, RA O TM NH .W5 E INB m l BY our A-r TORNEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1953 LAMP SOCKET PROVIDED'WITH MEANS T0 SECURE IT TO AN APERTURED PANEL Forbes Howard, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., as signor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 13, 1950, Serial No. 155,737

l This invention relates to lamp sockets such as are usedv for the indirect lighting of instrument panels of automobiles and the like, and more particularly to such lamp sockets adapted for snap fastener engagement with an apertured support, and aims generally to improve existing devices of this type.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a two-piece electric lamp socket of simple and economical construction having improved snap fastener engagement with an apertured support.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision of improved supportattaching means for an electric lamp socket.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a two-piece electric lamp socket comprisng a lamp-receiving member and cooperating resilient support-engaging members constructed and arranged to facilitate the application of the socket to a support.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lamp socket assembly embodying a novel arrangement of elongated resilient support-engaging arms and mounting means therefor designed to provide greater resiliency and tolerance take-up and to permit the use of a two-piece assembly of this general type.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a lamp socket assembly provided with means for automatically locking the assembly in mounted position on an apertured support and for releasing the assembly from locked position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification illustrating and describing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp socket embodying the invention shown engaged with an apertured support, the latter being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the lamp socket of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front end View of the lamp socket;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lamp socket taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the support-engaging spring;

Fig. 6 is an end View of the support-engaging spring;

Fig. 7 is a top lView of the support-engaging Spring;

Fig..8 isa vertical cross-sectional view similar 4 claims. (c1. 33e-'128) to Fig. 4, showing a slightly modified form of the invention applied to a support, the latter being shown in section;

Fig. 9 is a side View of the support-engaging spring of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the support-engaging spring of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a top view of the support-engaging spring of Fig. 9.

The socket l of the invention is adapted for snap fastener engagement with a support 2 having an aperture 3. The support 2 may be a metal panel, such as the instrument panel of an automobile, and the aperture 3 may be of any suitable shape, such as round, square, rectangular or the like but is preferably round.

The socket I comprises a casing 4 preferably formed from a single piece of sheet material such as sheet metal, and having a tubular body portion 5 adapted to seat a lamp base and oppositely disposed longitudinally extending grooved portions 6 communicating with the tubular body portion 5 and adapted to receive the spring arms of a support-engaging resilient spring member l hereinafter described.

The grooved portions 6 may desirably be substantially rectangular or square in cross-sectional shapeand are preferably formed by pressing the material of the tubular body portion 5 outwardly, as shown, to form the generally elliptical shaped casing 4.

One end of the casing 4 is open and provided with an outwardly extending support-engaging fiange 8 adapted to sealingly engage the support 2 around the aperture 3 therein to seal the open end of the socket against the entry of dust and the like. If desired, a gasket of suitable material may be interposed between the ange 8 and support 2 to increase the effectiveness of the seal.

At its opposite end the casing 4 is provided with an end closure t centrally apertured as at I0 to receive a portion of the socket-attaching means as will be more apparent hereinafter.

From the above description it will be apparent that the construction herein provides acasing 4 generally elliptical in cross-sectional shape and composed of the tubular body portion 5 and the communicating pressed-out groove portions 6. Inwardly thereof the tubular body portion 5 has oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces Il adapted to receive and snugly engage the base of a lamp and connected with the sides l2 of the pressedout groove portions 6. Keyways or slots I3 are formed in the arcuate surfaces Il for receiving assetto intermediate said lamp base receiving portions and alternateiy therewith about the circumference of said casing, spring arms disposed in said groove-forming portions and fulorumed adjacent the inner ends thereof, the outer ends of said arms eatending from an end of said casing and provided with means for snap fastener engagement with an apertured support, said spring arms being substantially movable Within said grooveforming portions.

e. A lamp socket comprising a casing having opposed outwardly extending longitudinal grooves therein, opposed `wall portions adapted for seating a lamp base, said longitudinal grooves being positioned intermediate said wall portions and alternately therewith about the circumference of said easing, spring arms disposed in said grooves and extending outwardly beyond an end of said casing, said spring arms being bendable about fulcrum points located adjacent an opposite end of said casing and substantially movable within d said grooves, support-engaging prongs disposed on the ends of said spring arms, and locking flanges on said prongs for locking engagement with a support, into said grooves for facilitating the release of said looking anges.

FORBES HOWARD.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 123,355 Mumler Feb. 6, 1872 570,669 Lapworth Nov. 3, 1896 979,927 Brown et al Dec. 27, 1910 1,110,163 Thomas Sept. 8, 191e 1,881,811 Mead Oct. 11, 1932 1,976,501 James Oct. 9, 1934 2,208,437 Stearns July 16, 1940 2,239,451 Stearns Apr. 22, 1941 2,572,813 Murphy Oct. 23, 1951 

